Panda diplomacy with China falls short on Biden-Xi summit priority list

The leaders of the world’s two largest economies will discuss various topics this week — but not pandas.

Talks in San Francisco between President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping are highly anticipated amid high tensions between the two countries. They also come as the beloved giant pandas at Washington’s Smithsonian National Zoo are making their way back to China.

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“Will President Biden ask President Xi about pandas and getting more pandas for the U.S.?” a reporter asked National Security Council coordinator John Kirby aboard Air Force One on Tuesday.

The answer was no.

“We’re sorry to see the pandas go,” Kirby said. “But obviously that was a sovereign decision by the [People’s Republic of China], and of course, we have to respect that.”

Kirby and Biden were traveling to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, which will host an expected 20,000 CEOs and heads of state in San Francisco this week. San Francisco Mayor London Breed has said the conference will bring in almost $53 million, which could revitalize the city’s economy.

Among the most highly anticipated events at the summit will be a meeting between Xi and Biden, one that both leaders will hope goes well for their nations.

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The beloved giant pandas left the United States for China last week, almost one month earlier than their stay’s expiration date.

Giant pandas Mei Xiang, Tian Tian, and their 3-year-old cub, Xiao Qi Ji, left to travel aboard the FedEx Panda Express to the China Wildlife Conservation Society. Plans are still being made for the future of the panda exhibit, but that will presumably left up to Smithsonian leaders without the help of Biden.